Colleges across America are scrambling to understand not only what their college campuses will look like in the fall, but how many college students will be back. State budgets have been blown up by faulty Coronavirus models that led to massive unemployment.

One metric that gives a look into what may become way less college students going back to school is financial aid applications. Pennsylvania is getting a first hand look.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, fewer people are applying for financial aid for college, according to Pennsylvania’s student aid agency.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency said Thursday it has received 31,000 fewer applications for financial aid, compared to the same time last year. PHEAA officials speculated some aren’t applying because their financial situation has changed in the pandemic and some students aren’t sure they will be going to college in the fall.

PHEAA extended the deadline to apply for its student grant program to May 15; the deadline was initially May 1. The state grant program offers assistance to families based on financial need and the grants don’t have to be repaid.

PHEAA said it is seeing a decline in applications in first-time students, including high school seniors, as well as returning college students.

The state grant program offers assistance for families earning less than $125,000 annually. Last year, 134,000 students received state grants to help pay for college.